subject: Introduction To Kitchen Scales [print this page] Introduction To Kitchen Scales Introduction To Kitchen Scales
Kitchen scales are perhaps one of the most neglected gadgets in the kitchen. At least by those who do not know how to use them. For chefs and cooking apprentices however, kitchen scales are there closest friends because it helps them estimate the amount of ingredient they need to make a perfect dish. If you're planning to buy your first ever kitchen scale but have no idea what to look for, let me introduce you to the basic types of scales and their uses.
If you're the kind of person who hates reading from the number line, a digital kitchen scale is perfect for you. This scale is the easiest to use among the kitchen scale types since they automatically display a figure once you place an item on the weighing platform. The weight increment for a digital weighing scale is 1/100 of a gram and is therefore perfect for weighing very small objects. The only catch is they are pricier since they run in batteries.
The second type of kitchen scale is the top-loading dial scale or the spring scale as it is commonly known. It is termed as such because it uses a dial to point at a measurement. This type of scale is similar to a digital scale when it comes to the positioning of the platform, which is right above the body. Spring scales are usually weight incremented by of a pound. There are newer models however that come in one tenth of a gram.
Next to the spring scale is the hanging scale. Unlike the first two weighing scales, the hanging spring scale has it's "platform" or "basket" hanging from the body and can carry items of up to 600 lbs. of weight. Hanging scales are usually seen in wet markets where they are used to measure the weight of huge chunks of pork, cow meat, or large fishes.
One of the first things you need to consider when buying a scale is the purpose with which you are going to utilize it. For example, if you are planning to buy a scale so that you can measure the weight of ingredients in your cooking lessons, a small digital or spring scale would do the trick. Only buy hanging kitchen scales if you are involved in a business where you need to weigh heavier objects like the ones mentioned earlier.
Safety is your number one priority when buying any kind of gadget to be used in the kitchen. Therefore, when deciding on a weighing scale, look for one that is uncomplicated to clean and maintain such as that which is made of stainless steel.
